QUEEN’S GRADUATE INCLUDED IN APOLITICAL LIST OF WORLD’S 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN DIGITAL GOVERNMENT 
08 August 2018
Apolitical, a global policy platform, today (Wednesday, 08 August) announced its inaugural list of the World’s 100 Most Influential People in Digital Government for 2018, which includes Queen’s medical graduate Dr Janil Puthucheary.
The list is the first of its kind to show the full international spread of innovative work in the field, celebrating world-beating individuals from every continent. South America, East Asia and smaller European nations emerge among the most dynamic regions.
Forty-five-year-old Queen’s University graduate Dr Janil Puthucheary, MB BCh BAO 1995, who is the son of a 1968 Queen’s LLB graduate, Dominic Puthucheary, is currently the minister-in-charge of GovTech and the senior minister of state in the Ministry of Communications and Information for the government of Singapore.
Highlighting the reasons for Dr Puthucheary’s inclusion in the prestigious list, the Apolitical website stated:
He [Janil Puthucheary] is leading attempts to increase inclusion for all citizens, regardless of their technical literacy or expertise, across government services in Singapore.
Closely involved in Singapore’s Smart Nation drive, he is working to increase interoperability between different services to help increase access for citizens.
The 100 Most Influential People Working in Digital Government were curated from nominations from hundreds of digital government experts from leading organisations, including 14 national digital services, The Alan Turing Institute, the OECD, the UN, Future Cities Catapult, USAID, and the Open Government Partnership.
Those in the top 20 include: Malcolm Turnbull, Audrey Tang, Martha Lane Fox, Tim Berners-Lee, Jennifer Pahlka and Evgeny Morozov.
In the list, public servants from all levels of government appear alongside representatives of the private and third sectors and academia. Everyone included has exerted outsize influence on the transition to digital governments, whether through policymaking, research, advocacy or other means.
All work to ensure the services government provides make full use of the opportunities offered by digital technology - while avoiding the pitfalls.
Apolitical expects the annual list of the 100 Most Influential People in Digital Government to highlight what’s working in digital government, and through the work of those named to provide both a snapshot and a road map for the future of digital policy.
“People working in digital government often go unrecognised by the wider public, yet the work they do is vital as both the opportunities and risks of digital technologies increase” said Apolitical CEO Robyn Scott.
“It’s been a joy to produce this list recognising the most influential individuals in the field - including some incredible unsung heroes – from around the world.”
The Apolitical global platform is used in more than 120 countries around the world. It connects public servants and policymakers with each other and enables them to find original and curated content about what’s working in global policymaking including on topics such as digital government and government innovation.
Media enquiries regarding the 100 Most Influential People Working in Digital Government to Eve Powell at Apolitical, or telephone +44 (0)78 7217 6235.
General enquiries to Gerry Power, Communications Officer, Development and Alumni Relations Office at Queen’s University Belfast, tel: +44 (0)28 9097 5321.
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